Stop-motion device



W. S. MILLS AND H. E. BISAILLON.

STOP MOTION DEVICE.-

' APPLICATION FILED AUG-4, I9I9.

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|"IH I g a 3 H S l u w gi R ea x g 1 Patbnted Nov. 16,1920.

w. s. MILLS AND'H. E. B'ISAILLON.

STOP MOTION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-4,1919.

Patented N 0v. 16, 1920.

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a; N ER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. MILLS, GF TRUMBULL, AND HECTOR E. BISAILLON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

STOP-MOTION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application filed August 4, 1919. Serial No. 315,352.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM S. MILLS and Hnoron E. BrsAILLoN, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Trumbull and Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Stop-Motion Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an automatic stop motion device for sewing machines or the like, and which is set into action by a knot or lump in the thread before such knot or lump arrives at a point where it might cause damage, as by causing a breakage of the thread when such knot or lump reaches the needle of a sewing machine. end the invention comprises a tripping lever provided with a narrow slot which will permit the free passage of the thread, but which when a knot or lump in the thread comes along will be tripped so as to release a latch lever and thus enable suitable connecting mechanism to apply a brake to the power shaft of the machine to be stopped, as will be hereinafter fully set forth. The invention is specially intended for use in connection with the well-known Morrow scollop making or embroidering sewing machine, but may be used in connection with other forms of machines, as will be understood.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus embodying the present invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are front and rear end views, respectively, thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 12 denotes a bracket which may be attached to a work bench conveniently adjacent to a sewing or other machine in connection with which the improved stop motion device is .to be used, said bracket having uprights 13 and let affording bearings for a rock shaft 15 provided at its forward end, outside 'of the upright 14, with an arm 16 having at its upper end a segment gear 17 meshing with a segment gear 18 on the lower end of a latch-- lever 19 pivoted to said upright 14 and having at its upper end a finger 20 adapted to be engaged by a hook 21 on a tripping lever 22 pivoted on a screw 23 tapped in said upright 14. The tripping lever 22 is preferably formed thin at its upper end, this thin part being provided with a narrow slot or To this slit 24 which will permit the free passage of a thread but which will not permit the passage of a knot, so that when engagedby a knot in the thread said lever will be tilted or tripped so as to disengage the hook or catch 21 on said tripping lever from the finger 20 on the said latch-lever, thereby permitting a torsional spring 25 encircling the said rock shaft 15 to rock the said shaft in a direction opposite that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and apply a brake to the power shaft of a machine to be stopped, as

will be explained later. The slot or slit 24 extends downward from the V-shaped open end 2 F of the lever 22, and which V-shaped open end of said lever guides the thread when it is to be entered downward in said slot or slit in placing the thread into working position. One end of the torsional spring 25 engages the upright let andthe other end thereof engages a collar 25 fixed to the rock shaft 15, said collar being adjustable about said shaft so that the tension of said spring may be regulated as may be desired.

The hook 21 is held in engagement with the finger 26 on the latch-lever 19 by a light coil spring 27 connected with the said latchlever and with the upper end of an arm 28 attached to the upright 14 and preferably provided with a thread guiding eye 29. Attached to the top of the upright 14 is a stop 30 against which the trippin lever 22 is held by the said spring 27. upported by the upright 14 are suitable thread guides 31, 32 and 33 afforded by the wires 31*, 32 and 33.

The thread guides 31 and 32 are on opposite sides of the tripping arm or lever 22 having the narrow slit or slot 24, and the wires on which these thread guides are formed are preferably vertically adjustable by virtue of set screws by which they are fixed in working positions so that said thread guides may be arranged at a proper height relative to the V-shaped, inwardly tapering or outwardly flaring opening at the end of the said arm or lever, to enable a knot or lump in the thread to be drawn out or escape from said arm or lever when the latter is tilted over to the right (Fig. 2) by the thread knot or lump in releasing the latch lever 19 and effecting the stopping of the machine. Thus the thread may be drawn forward without being broken when the machine is to be stopped, which is much better than to have the thread broken. It will therefore be understood that the V-shaped or inwardly tapering open end of the tripping arm or lever, and which open end communicates with the narrow thread slot or slit 24; therein, not only facilitates the threading of said arm or lever, as above suggested, but enables the knotted thread to escape therefrom without being broken.

It will also be noted that the present improved stop motion device may be applied for use, in connection with machines already in use, simply by being attached to the workbench or table on which a 7 machine is mounted, without requirlng any changes whatever in the existing machines.

Attached to the end of the rock shaft '15 is a depending arm 392 to which isconnected a link 35 having a screw threaded portion 36 passing through a lip or flange 37 on av plate 38 to which one end of a brake band 39 is riveted or otherwise suitably attached, said brake band preferably having a frictional lining part 40 surrounding a brake wheel. 41 fast on a shaft 4-2 which, in the present instance, represents the driving or power shaft of a sewing machine. The other end of the brake band 39 is riveted or otherwise suitably attached to a strap 43 which is in turn secured to the bracket 12. The threaded portion of the link 35 is provided with nuts 45 and 46 arranged on opposite sides of the lip or flange 37 on the plate 38, these nuts affording means for adjusting the tension of the brake band. Mounted on the upright portion 13 ofthe bracket 12 are two stop pins a8 and 19 wiich limit the movement of the rocking arm 34 in both directions.

Attached to or integral with the rocking arm 34, which is pinned to the rear end of the rock shaft 15, is a handle 50 by which the shaft 15 may be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in F 1g. 2 to move the arm 16 from the position denoted by dotted lines to the position shown by full lines in said Fig. 2, thereby returning the latch lever 1-9 to its normal position after it has been released from the tripping'lever, and in being thus restored to its normal positionthe finger 20 will lift the hook 21 slightly against the stress of the spring 27 which will cause said hook to engage and hold said finger as soon as the latter has passed by the inclined outer face of said hook.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the sewing machine will be automatically stopped by the application of the brake band 39, 4:0, to the brake wheel 41 when a knot or lump in the thread engages the trip- The invention is not to be understood as being limited to the details herein shown and described, as such details may be varie l widely, within the province of mechanical skill, without departing from the essence of the invention.

Having thus described our invention we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentz- 1. The combination with a machine power shaft provided with. a brake wheel, of a spring-held tripping lever having a narrow slot permitting the free passage of a thread butadapted to be tripped by a lmot or lump in the thread, said tripping lever having a hook, a latchdever normally engaged by said hook on said tripping lever, a rock shaft connected with said latch-lever and provided with an arm having a gear connection. with said latch lever, a torsional spring for operating said rock-shaft when said latch-lever is released by the operation of said tripping lever, a brake band connected with said rock-shaft and acting on said brake-wheel to arrest the movement of said power shaft when said latch-lever is released, and means forman-ua-lly turnin said rock shaft in opposition to the stress or said torsional spring to restore the parts 'to operative positions.

2. The vcombination with a machine power shaft provided with a brake wheel, of a spring-held tripping lever having a narrow slot permittingthe free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped by a knot or nunp in the thread, a latch-lever normally engaged by said tripping lever, a rock-shaft provided with an arn liaving a gear connection with said latch-lever, a torsional spring for operating said rock-shaft when said latch-lever is released by the operation of said tripping lever, and a brake connected with said rock-shaft and which will act on said brake wheel when said latch-lever is, released.

3. The combination with a machine power shaft provided with a brake wheel, of a spring-held tripping lever having narrow slot permitting the freepassage of a thread but adapted to be tripped by a knot or lump in the thread, a latch-lever normally engaged by said tripping lever, a rock-shaft provided with an arm having a gear connection with said latch-lever, a torsional spring for operating said rock-shaft when said latch-lever is released by the operation of said tripping lever, asecond arm on said rock-shaft, a brake band connected with said slot permitting the free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped by a knot or lump in the thread, a latch-lever normally engaged by said tripping lever, a rock-shaft provided with an arm having a gear connec; tion with said shaft when said latch-lever is released by the operation of said tripping lever, a second arm on said rock-shaft, a brake band connected with said second arm and which is applied to said brake-band by the stress of said torsional spring when said latch lever is released, and a handle by which said rock-shaft may be turned slightly to reset said tripping lever.

5. In a stop motion device, the combination with a suitable bracket adapted to be attached to a work bench or the like, of a rock-shaft mounted in said bracket and provided at its forwardend with an arm, a latch-lever pivoted to an upright portion of said bracket and having a gearing connection with said arm, said latch-lever having a finger at its upper end, a tripping lever mounted at the upper part of the upright portion of said bracket and having a hook adapted to engage said finger, said tripping lever being provided with a narrow slot or slit permitting the free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped by a knot or lump therein, a torsional spring acting on said shaft, a shaft of a machine to be stopped, a brake-wheel fixed to said shaft, an arm on the rear end of said rock shaft, and a brake band engaging said brake wheel, one end of said band being connected with said last-named arm and the other end thereof to a fixed part; whereby when a knot or lump in the thread engages said tripping lever said latch-lever will be released and said brake band be applied to said brake wheel to stop the machine.

6. In a stop motion device, the combination with a suitable bracket adapted to be attached to a work bench or the like, of a rock-shaft mounted in said bracket and provided at its forward end with an arm, a latch-lever pivoted to an upright portion of said bracket and having a gearing connection with said arm, said latch lever having a finger at its upper end, a tripping lever mounted at the upper part of the upright portion of said bracket and having a hook adapted to engage said finger, said tripping lever being provided with a V-shaped opening at its end and a narrow slot or slit communicating therewith and permitting the free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped by a knot or lump therein, a torsional spring acting on said shaft, a shaft of a machine to be stopped, a brake wheel fixed to said shaft, an arm on the rear end of said rock-shaft, and a brake band engaging said brake-wheel, one end of said band being connected with said last-named arm and the other end thereof to a fixed part; whereby when a knot or lump in the thread engages said tripping lever said latch lever will be released and said brake band be applied to said brake wheel to stop the chine.

7. In a stop motion device, the combination with a suitable bracket adapted to be attached to a work bench or the like, of a rock-shaft mounted in said bracket and provided at its forward end with an arm, a latch lever pivoted to an upright portion of said bracket and having a gearing connec-' tion. with said arm, said latch-lever having a finger at its upper end, a tripping lever mountedat the upper part of the upright portion of said bracket and having a hook adapted to engage said finger, said tripping lever being provided'with a narrow slot or slit permitting the free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped by a knot or lump therein, a torsional spring acting on said shaft, a shaft of a machine to be stopped, a brake wheel fixed to said shaft, an arm on the rear end of said rock-shaft, a brake band engaging said brake wheel, one end of said band being connected with said lastnamed arm and the other end thereof to a fixed part, and means for adjusting the tension of said brake band; whereby when a knot or lump in the thread engages said tripping lever said latch lever will be released and said brake band be applied to said brake wheel to stop the machine.

8. In a stop motion device, the combination with a shaft to be stopped, of stopping means adapted to act on said shaft and tripping means connected with said stopping means but holding said stopping means normally inactive, said tripping means comprising a tripping arm lever having a narrow slot or slit permitting the free passage of a thread but which arm or lever is adapted to be tripped by a knot or lump therein, said tripping arm or leverhaving a V-shaped opening at its end, said opening communicating with said slot or slit, to facilitate entering the thread into said slot or slit and to permit of the escape of knots or lumps in the thread without breaking the thread.

9. In a stop-motion device,'the combination with a shaft to be stopped, of stopping means adapted to act on said shaft, tripping means holding said stopping means normally inactive, said tripping means comprising an arm or lever having a narrow slit and an inwardly tapering or V-shaped opening at the end of said arm or lever, said opening communicating with said slit, and thread guides arranged adjacent to and on opposite sides of said arm or lever.

10. The combination with a power shaft provided with a wheel to which a brake may be applied, of a springheld-tripping arm having a narrow slit or slot permitting of free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped by a knot or lump in'the thread, a hook movable with said arm, a latch-lever normally engaged by said hook, a rock-shaft operatively connected to said latch-lever, a spring for operating said rock-shaft when said latch-lever is released from said hook by the operation of said trippingarm, and a brake operated from said rock-shaft and acting on said wheel to arrest the movement. of said power shaft when said latch-lever, is released. 7 7

11. The combination with a power shaft provided with a wheel to whicha brake may be applied, of a spring-held tripping arm having a narrow slit or slot permitting; of free passage of a thread but adapted toibe tripped by a knot or lump in the thread, a

hook movable with said arm, alatch-lever normally engaged by said hook, a rock-shaft operatively connected to said latch lever, a springfor operating said rock-shaft when said latch lever is. released from said hook: by the operation'of said tripping arm, a. brake operated from said rock-shaft and acting on said wheel to arrest the movement of said power shaft when said latch-lever is released, and manual means for turning said rock-shaft in opposition to the stress of said spring to restore the parts to normal positions. 7

12. A stop motion device for sewing machines consisting of a structure which is separate from and independent of a sewing machine and is thus adapted to be applied to existing machines without changing such I machines, said structure comprising a brake device adapted to act on the power shaft of a sewing: machine, means for holding said brake'device normally inactive, a rockshaft connected to said brake device, a spring connected with said brake device through said rockshaft, and a tripping arm having a narrowslit permitting free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped, to release the holding means, by a knob or lump in the thread. 7

13. A. stop motion device for sewing machines consisting of a structure which is separate from and independent of a sewing machine and is thus adapted to be applied to existing-machineswithout changing such machines, said structure comprising a brake device adapted to act on the power shaft of a sewing machine, means for holding said brake device normally inactive, a rockshaft connected to saidbrakedevice, a spring connected, with said brake device through said rockshaft, and a tripping'arm having a narrow slit permitting free passage of a thread but adapted to be tripped, to release the holding means, by a knob or lump in the thread, said arm having at its end an inwardly tapering or V-shaped opening communicating with said-slit, and thread guides arranged adjacent to and on opposite sides of said arm.

Intestimony whereof we affixour signatures.

WILLIAM S. MILLS. HECTOR E. BISAILLON. 

